Latest news with #ThreeStrikes
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Tamatha Paul Gives Shoplifting The Green Light
Green MP Tamatha Paul is giving shoplifting the green light as she opposes the Government's plan to strengthen penalties, National Party Spokesperson for Justice Paul Goldsmith says. 'The Greens are singing from the same old song sheet, making excuses for anyone who attacks or steals from hard working New Zealanders.' Yesterday Ms Paul said, 'if people don't have enough money to buy food, then they're going to look towards shoplifting things.' 'That seems to be okay with her and the Green Party. Does Labour agree?' Mr Goldsmith says. 'Kiwis need to remember that Labour and the Greens joined forces to vote against tougher sentences for violent criminals, reinstating Three Strikes, banning gang patches and giving Police the power to conduct warrantless searches on gang members. We can only assume this week will be the status quo. 'This Government is making significant progress on restoring law and order. Violent crime is down and Kiwis can feel safer in their homes and communities. A Labour-Greens government would put all of that at risk.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Surge In Forecast Prison Numbers Shows Govt Serious About Law And Order
'The projected surge in the prison population over the next decade proves we are serious about keeping the worst offenders off the streets,' says ACT Leader David Seymour. 'The Ministry of Justice's latest 10-year forecast says the number of sentenced criminals in prison will rise one-third by 2035. Almost 2,000 more hardened criminals will be held behind bars instead of inflicting crime on the community. 'Normally, ACT rails against taxes. We make an exception because locking up crims is the best taxpayer money we'll ever spend. Prisons only sound expensive until you imagine crims out on the streets, robbing, raping, and murdering. 'The second best money we'll spend is making them read, write, and get a trade before letting them out. Offenders need to be straightened out permanently, and parole should depend more on rehabilitation. 'The Ministry of Justice says imprisonment will rise because of the Government's policies. The Government's Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Act 2025, will shift some offenders from community-based sentences to prison sentences. ACT's Three Strikes law which will mean longer sentences for criminals with eligible previous offences. Those are the changes that even the public service admits will put more crims behind bars. 'The Government is sending a clear message. The days of cuddling crims, and Labour's goal of fewer prisoners in jail, are long gone. If you break the law, expect to be locked away for a long time.'
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Govt announces harsher penalties for one-punch attacks
The government will legislate to ensure coward punches are treated as a specific offence. Coward punches, also known as king hits, are when strikes are delivered to a victim's head or neck, without warning and when the victim is unable to defend themselves. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said specific offences would reflect the gravity of the crime. "We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences," he said. The charges and penalties - An assault offence for one punch attacks which cause grievous bodily harm with associated maximum penalties of - eight years imprisonment when the offender intended to cause injury or acted with reckless disregard for safety. Fifteen years imprisonment when the offender intended to cause grievous bodily harm. - A culpable homicide offence for a one punch attack which results in death with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. - Both offences would be added to the Three Strikes legislation. - The legislation fulfils part of National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the legislation made it clear the behaviour would no longer be tolerated. "The victim has no notice, and because of that the chance of them defending themselves is just impossible. So, we want to spell out how unacceptable it is that you behave in that way." There were renewed calls to specifically criminalise coward punches in 2021, following the death of Fau Vake in Auckland. In that instance, Daniel Havili pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail. Goldsmith was reluctant to single out any specific examples of sentences he felt were too lenient, and said the government did not want to be seen to criticise the judiciary over the particulars. National already had a member's bill drawn from the ballot, in the name of MP Paulo Garcia that would criminalise coward punches, and amend the definition of murder. Goldsmith said the government would take over Garcia's bill. A previous National member's bill to create a specific coward punch offence was voted down at its first reading in 2020. The government's announcement follows a separate piece of legislation announced over the weekend, to introduce higher penalties for people who assault first responders. The cowards punch legislation would be included in an amendment bill along with the first responder assault penalties, and changes to citizens' arrest laws. Goldsmith hoped it would be introduced by the end of the year and passed into law before the election.
1News
3 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
Live stream: PM briefs media after law and order announcements
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to media after Cabinet met earlier today. The briefing follows two announcements on law and order in the past 24 hours. Yesterday, the Government announced that people who assaulted on-duty police officers, firefighters, paramedics or prison officers would face longer prison sentences under new criminal offences. Those who assaulted with intent to injure would face up to five years in jail, while those who injured with intent could receive up to seven years — an offence that would also trigger the Three Strikes regime, requiring mandatory minimum sentences. And, this afternoon, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith unveiled a specific offence for "coward punches", which would mean tougher sentences for perpetrators - up to life for culpable homicide. ADVERTISEMENT A coward punch usually involves a person being punched or assaulted, without warning, by a stranger. Goldsmith said: 'We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences. 'This fulfils a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement, to introduce legislation to create an offence for anyone who injures or kills someone with a coward punch."
1News
4 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
Longer jail terms proposed for assaults on first responders, prison officers
People who assault on-duty police officers, firefighters, paramedics, or prison officers would face longer prison sentences under new criminal offences announced by the Government today. Under the proposed legislation, an existing provision for assaulting police would be expanded to cover paramedics, firefighters and prison officers with a maximum sentence of up to three years' imprisonment. Those who assault with intent to injure will face up to five years, while those who injure with intent could receive up to seven years — an offence that will also trigger the Three Strikes regime, requiring mandatory minimum sentences. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said first responders ran towards danger to help those who needed urgent assistance. "Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these heinous acts of violence. We want to send a very clear message that assaults against our first responders will not be tolerated." ADVERTISEMENT Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. (Source: 1News) He said it was part of the Government's plan to "restore real consequences for crime". "It's all part of our plan to restore law and order, which we know is working." The new offences expand on existing laws which currently applied to assaults on police staff and were a commitment in the National - New Zealand First coalition agreement. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told 1News that the bill had long been a priority for his party. "It's simply wrong that people carrying out their lawful duties—ambulance officers, firefighters, police, and, dare I say, prison officers—are being assaulted without consequences," he said. An earlier version of the legislation from NZ First MP Darroch Ball was voted down ahead of its third reading in 2020. It would have introduced a minimum six-month mandatory sentence for assaults on police, corrections officers, paramedics, nurse and fire services. ADVERTISEMENT New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. (Source: 1News) Peters said he was "really saddened" by the bill's earlier failure but was now "seriously confident" it will pass into law. "We negotiated this, and we expect people to keep their word," he added. Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said first responders did a tough job and needed to be protected both by the law and by being properly paid and supported. "However, the Government has failed to recruit the 500 frontline police they promised they would and at the same time, meth usage has doubled. This puts those at the frontline under great pressure. "We also need to be looking at the causes of crime before offending occurs, such as homelessness, unemployment, mental health and addiction, and poverty." AUT law professor Kris Gledhill. (Source: Auckland University of Technology) ADVERTISEMENT List of workers covered 'limited' - law professor AUT law professor Kris Gledhill said the Sentencing Act 2002 already treated assaults on emergency workers and prison officers as an aggravating factor during sentencing. "Some might suggest that this makes it unnecessary to have a separate offence because the status of the worker is already reflected in sentencing practice." Gledhill also said the list was "limited" and that having separate offences created "anomalies". He pointed out that UK legislation includes public health workers like nurses and doctors, whereas New Zealand's proposal did not. "Nurses, doctors and other workers in New Zealand's hospitals or other health settings might ask why they are not covered," he said. "There are also lots of other workers in public services who may consider that they are at risk of assault when they are just carrying out their jobs – traffic wardens, dog control officers, for example." ADVERTISEMENT Asked about protections for workers in the New Zealand health system, Goldsmith said it was a fair question and that it could be considered as the bill progresses through Parliament. "What we've chosen at the start here is ambulance workers, firefighters and police and corrections officers, but you know, that's a debate we could have during the select committee." Frontline leaders back tougher penalties St John deputy chief executive of ambulance operations Dan Ohs said there were daily reports of workers being hit, kicked, spat on, abused, and threatened. "That's a 10% year-on-year increase and that's of significant concern to us." He said anything which discourages people from assaulting ambulance personnel was a "fantastic initiative". "The only caution I would make is in our situation, people have specific medical problems which may make them behave in a certain way." ADVERTISEMENT Corrections Association president Floyd du Plessis (left), St John deputy chief executive of ambulance operations Dan Ohs (right). (Source: 1News) Corrections Association president Floyd du Plessis said staff assaults were "extremely high" across the country. "Police look at it as not being within the public interest to prosecute because of the fact that they're already in prison. We need to see consequence for these things, and staff need to feel like them being injured matters to somebody." He said the legislation was "absolutely needed". "We need more consequence, because without consequence, why would you stop?" The Police Association told 1News it welcomed the intent of the legislation and looked forward to considering the details of the bill when they were released. The Government was hopeful it would pass the legislation by the middle of this year.
